Overview & Description

The Royal Purple Smokebush (Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’) is a stunning, award-winning deciduous shrub celebrated for its dramatic, multi-season appeal. Its rounded, deep reddish-purple to maroon leaves emerge in spring and retain their rich color throughout summer without fading. In early summer, tiny yellowish flowers are followed by billowy, smoke-like hairs on elongated stalks, creating fluffy, pinkish-purple plumes that cover the plant and give the illusion of smoke. The foliage turns brilliant scarlet to copper-red in autumn.

Growth & Size

This variety exhibits an upright, loose-spreading, multi-stemmed growth habit with an open, rounded form. It typically reaches a mature size of about 10 to 15 feet in height with a spread of 10 to 20 feet, though it can be maintained at a smaller size with pruning. It grows at a medium rate.

Additional Notes

It blooms from early to late summer, with the showy smoky plumes persisting for several weeks. Exceptionally low-maintenance, it is deer-resistant, drought-tolerant once established, and adapts to a wide range of well-drained soils, though it must not be planted in wet sites. Thrives in full sun for best foliage color. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and inner city environments. An outstanding choice for use as a striking specimen plant, in mass plantings, shrub borders, or as an informal hedge.